Prioritizing data packets associated with applications running in a networked computing environment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for prioritizing a set of data packets associated with an application running in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). In a typical embodiment, an SLA associated with a particular application and at least one other SLA associated with at least one other application are accessed (e.g., in a database or the like). A proposed modification to a priority of a set of data packets associated with the particular application (e.g., corresponding to a workload being processed via the particular application) is then determined based on a comparison of a current performance (e.g., transmission rate) of the set of data packets versus a specified performance of the set of data packets as set forth in the SLA. Then, an effect of the proposed modification on a capability of the particular application to meet a set of terms of the SLA, and of the at least one other application to meet a set of terms of the at least one other SLA will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, it will be determined whether to implement the proposed modification. For example, the proposed modification can be implemented if it will not cause any of the SLAs to be unmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for prioritizing data packets associated with applications running in a networked computing environment, comprising:
 accessing, in a computer data structure, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) associated with a particular application and at least one other SLA associated with at least one other application, the particular application and the at least one other application running in the networked computing environment; 
 determining a proposed modification to a priority of a set of data packets associated with the particular application based on a comparison of a current performance of the set of data packets against a specified performance of the set of data packets as set forth in the SLA, the proposed modification comprising assigning a higher priority to the set of data packets as compared to that of a set of other data packets associated with the at least one other application; 
 evaluating an effect of the proposed modification on a capability of the particular application to meet a set of terms of the SLA, and of the at least one other application to meet a set of terms of the at least one other SLA, the evaluating comprising determining current speeds at which the set of data packets and the set of other data packets traverse elements of the networked computing environment; and 
 determining whether to implement the proposed modification based on the evaluating. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing the current speeds to respective specified speeds set forth in the respective SLA and the at least one other SLA. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the elements comprising at least one of the following: a set of routers, a set of switches, a set of nodes, a set of endpoints, a virtual private network (VPN), a set of network connections, or a set of network links. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the set of data packets corresponding to a workload being processed via the application. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the determining comprising determining whether to implement the proposed modification if the set of terms of the SLA and the set of terms of the at least one other SLA will be met after the proposed modification has been implemented. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment. 
     
     
       7. A system for prioritizing data packets associated with applications running in a networked computing environment, comprising:
 a bus; 
 a processor coupled to the bus; and 
 a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to:
 access, in a computer data structure, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) associated with a particular application and at least one other SLA associated with at least one other application, the particular application and the at least one other application running in the networked computing environment; 
 determine a proposed modification to a priority of a set of data packets associated with the particular application based on a comparison of a current performance of the set of data packets against a specified performance of the set of data packets as set forth in the SLA, the proposed modification comprising a proposed assignment of a higher priority to the set of data packets as compared to that of a set of other data packets associated with the at least one other application; 
 make an evaluation of an effect of the proposed modification on a capability of the particular application to meet a set of terms of the SLA, and of the at least one other application to meet a set of terms of the at least one other SLA, the evaluation comprising determining current speeds at which the set of data packets and the set of other data packets traverse elements of the networked computing environment; and 
 determine whether to implement the proposed modification based on the evaluating. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , the memory medium further comprising instructions to compare the current speeds to respective specified speeds set forth in the respective SLA and the at least one other SLA. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , the elements comprising at least one of the following: a set of routers, a set of switches, a set of nodes, a set of endpoints, a virtual private network (VPN), a set of network connections, or a set of network links. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , the set of data packets corresponding to a workload being processed via the application. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , the memory medium further comprising instructions to determine whether to implement the proposed modification if the set of terms of the SLA and the set of terms of the at least one other SLA will be met after the proposed modification has been implemented. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment. 
     
     
       13. A computer program product for prioritizing data packets associated with applications running in a networked computing environment, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:
 access, in a computer data structure, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) associated with a particular application and at least one other SLA associated with at least one other application, the particular application and the at least one other application running in the networked computing environment; 
 determine a proposed modification to a priority of a set of data packets associated with the particular application based on a comparison of a current performance of the set of data packets against a specified performance of the set of data packets as set forth in the SLA, the proposed modification comprising a proposed assignment of a higher priority to the set of data packets as compared to that of a set of other data packets associated with the at least one other application; 
 make an evaluation of an effect of the proposed modification on a capability of the particular application to meet a set of terms of the SLA, and of the at least one other application to meet a set of terms of the at least one other SLA, the evaluation comprising determining current speeds at which the set of data packets and the set of other data packets traverse elements of the networked computing environment; and 
 determine whether to implement the proposed modification based on the evaluating. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the memory medium further comprising instructions to compare the current speeds to respective specified speeds set forth in the respective SLA and the at least one other SLA. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the elements comprising at least one of the following: a set of routers, a set of switches, a set of nodes, a set of endpoints, a virtual private network (VPN), a set of network connections, or a set of network links. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the set of data packets corresponding to a workload being processed via the application. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the memory medium further comprising instructions to determine whether to implement the proposed modification if the set of terms of the SLA and the set of terms of the at least one other SLA will be met after the proposed modification has been implemented. 
     
     
       18. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the networked computing environment comprising a cloud computing environment. 
     
     
       19. A method for deploying a system for prioritizing data packets associated with applications running in a networked computing environment, comprising:
 providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:
 access, in a computer data structure, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) associated with a particular application and at least one other SLA associated with at least one other application, the particular application and the at least one other application running in the networked computing environment; 
 determine a proposed modification to a priority of a set of data packets associated with the particular application based on a comparison of a current performance of the set of data packets against a specified performance of the set of data packets as set forth in the SLA, the proposed modification comprising a proposed assignment of a higher priority to the set of data packets as compared to that of a set of other data packets associated with the at least one other application; 
 make an evaluation of an effect of the proposed modification on a capability of the particular application to meet a set of terms of the SLA, and of the at least one other application to meet a set of terms of the at least one other SLA, the evaluation comprising determining current speeds at which the set of data packets and the set of other data packets traverse elements of the networked computing environment; and 
 determine whether to implement the proposed modification based on the evaluating.